scholarly journals Book Review of Animal Suffering: The Science of Animal Welfare

2011 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Singer
Keyword(s):  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Animal Suffering

Political conservatism and the exploitation of nonhuman animals: An application of system justification theory

2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. 858-878 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark R. Hoffarth ◽  
Flávio Azevedo ◽  
John T. Jost
Keyword(s):  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Economic System ◽  
Social Dominance Orientation ◽  
System Justification ◽  
Animal Suffering ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
System Justification Theory ◽  
Nonhuman Animals ◽  
Political Conservatism ◽  
Welfare Attitudes

Many people in Western societies tolerate the mistreatment of nonhuman animals, despite obvious ethical concerns about the injustice of animal suffering and exploitation. In three studies, we applied system justification theory to examine the ideological basis of human–animal relations. In Studies 1a and 1b, we showed in both a large convenience sample ( N = 2,119) and a nationally representative sample in the US ( N = 1,500) that economic system justification uniquely explained the relationship between political conservatism and animal welfare attitudes even after adjusting for social dominance orientation. In Study 2, we replicated and extended these findings using more elaborate measures of animal welfare attitudes in the context of an MTurk sample of U.S. respondents ( N = 395). Specifically, we found that conservatism was associated with less support for animal welfare and greater endorsement of speciesism (the belief that humans are morally superior to nonhuman animals) and that individual differences in economic system justification mediated these associations. We discuss several ways in which system justification theory may inform interventions designed to promote support for animal welfare in society at large.

Animal Studies: Let’s Talk About Animal Welfare and Liberation Issues in Childhood

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 311-326
Author(s):  
William Sarfo Ankomah
Keyword(s):  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Animal Studies ◽  
Meat Consumption ◽  
Health Hazards ◽  
Nonhuman Animal ◽  
Childhood Studies ◽  
Animal Suffering ◽  
Language Philosophy ◽  
Environmental Destruction ◽  
Children's Education

Abstract This article examined reasons why information pertaining to nonhuman animal welfare and liberation should be introduced during childhood. Studies indicate that animal-welfare activists’ and abolitionists’ efforts to date may be insufficient given the pervasive environmental destruction and ongoing animal suffering. Moreover, research reveals that education related to animal welfare and liberation is systematically excluded from children’s education, and they thus remain unaware of the sources and associated health hazards of meat they consume. Conversely, children’s knowledge about animal welfare increases when exposed to literature on the topic, which enables them to make informed choices regarding meat consumption. This paper draws on animal-welfare and liberation literature to argue that augmenting children’s knowledge about animal welfare and liberation can foster children’s understanding, language, philosophy, and ability to make informed choices about their relationship with animals and the environment in general.

scholarly journals Severe canine distemper outbreak in unvaccinated dogs in Mozambique

2016 ◽  
Vol 87 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Julieta Zacarias ◽  
Alberto Dimande ◽  
Sara Achá ◽  
Paula T. Dias ◽  
Elisa M. Leonel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Immunohistochemical Staining ◽  
Canine Distemper Virus ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Canine Distemper ◽  
Animal Suffering ◽  
Low Income Families

Although significant animal suffering caused by preventable diseases is frequently seen in developing countries, reports of this are scarce. This report describes avoidable animal suffering owing to a suspected canine distemper (CD) outbreak in unvaccinated dogs owned by low-income families in Mozambique that killed approximately 200 animals. Affected dogs exhibited clinical signs, and gross and microscopic lesions compatible with CD. Immunohistochemical staining confirmed the presence of canine distemper virus (CDV) in the kidney of one dog from the cohort. This brief communication again illustrates that large outbreaks of CDV in unvaccinated dogs occur and that large-scale avoidable suffering and threats to the health of dogs and wild canines continue. Mass vaccination supported by government and non-government organisations is recommended.Keywords: Canine distemper; dogs; outbreak; animal welfare; Mozambique

The scientific assessment of the impact of housing on animal welfare: A critical review

1992 ◽  
Vol 72 (4) ◽  
pp. 721-743 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey Rushen ◽  
Anne Marie B. de Passillé
Keyword(s):  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Stereotyped Behavior ◽  
Performance Criteria ◽  
Abnormal Behavior ◽  
Major Influence ◽  
Animal Suffering ◽  
Political Issues ◽  
Scientific Assessment ◽  
Key Words Animal ◽  
The Impact

The issue of animal welfare, particularly in relation to legislation, involves philosophical, ethical, economic and political issues and is not just a matter for science. A scientific definition of welfare must address the concerns of the public, but is difficult to achieve because of a lack of consensus as to what good welfare involves. The assessment of animal welfare is best achieved using a mixture of design criteria (which specify what must be included in the environment) and performance criteria (which specify what the signs of good welfare are). The quality of stockmanship can have a major influence on animal welfare, and it should not be assumed that the method of housing is the major determinant of animal welfare. The validity of many of the proposed measures of welfare is difficult to determine because of a lack of understanding of the underlying biology. Measures of aversion are the best available measures of animal suffering caused by procedures of short duration, but whether they can be used to assess the effect of housing is uncertain. Consensus has not yet been reached on the issue of behavioral deprivation, but several measures of behavioral motivation can be used to determine if animals are frustrated, although none is free from criticism. Much abnormal, stereotyped behavior seems to reflect feeding rather than housing problems, and there is a lack of firm evidence that the level of stereotypic behavior correlates with the welfare of the animals. The method of housing can influence the animals' physiology, but this effect is not adequately described by measures of corticosteroids. Use of the term "stress" generates confusion. Production measures give some information about animal welfare but only if the causes of lowered production are known. Animal welfare is a complex phenomenon and one component of welfare should not be equated with the whole, nor should scientific assessment of welfare be considered a simple matter. Key words: Animal welfare, aversion, motivation, abnormal behavior, stress, stockmanship

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